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Archiver > APG > 2009-03 > 1237582204


From: "Stewart Millar" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Mormon News
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:50:04 -0000
References: <05FC3A32-1608-411F-B742-65A032C7F161@keyconn.net> <49C3B044.7040209@reevesweb.com><663085.17749.qm@web35506.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <663085.17749.qm@web35506.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


What is so often misunderstood about the "Mormon" records - IGI/AF/PRF - is
that they are a collection of largely submitted data with some
transcriptions of extracted church records. There is no verification of any
of the submitted data - it is up to any researcher or user of the data to
seek ways to establish the authenticity of what they find in the records.

It is most interesting to understand that the church has always recognised
the weakness of what is provided - many duplications and no means of editing
what has previously been submitted. Many of you will be aware that the
church is rolling out a new version of "FamilySearch", firstly to LDS
members and then to the general public that (a) combines all the various
databases into a single database; (b) allows contributors to identify
duplications and combine them into a single folder but still retain all of
the original submitted data; (c) allows the selection from the combined data
of the facts thought to be most accurate; (d) once ownership is claimed of
any submitted data, it can be edited or deleted by its owner; (e) provides
for the submission of source data for each stated event; (f) allows any
contributor to attach a note or dispute to any submitted data (Peggy can
have a field day!); (g) allows contributors to register an email address to
facilitate direct communication between interested contributors.

All of the above provides a facility in which the LDS church exercises no
censorship or editing but allows the contribution of data to be more
correctable than ever before.

Regards,
Stewart Millar
Berkshire, England



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